Friday, March 29th 2013

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Board 1 North Deals None Vul	♠ 7 6 5 4 2 ♥ K J ♦ A 5 2 ♣ 10 7 5
♠ A K J ♥ A 5 4 3 ♦ K Q 10 ♣ A K J	N W E S	♠ Q ♥ 10 9 8 7 6 ♦ 8 6 4 3 ♣ 6 3 2
	♠ 10 9 8 3 ♥ Q 2 ♦ J 9 7 ♣ Q 9 8 4

 

West opens 2C and, over a negative or wiating response by East, rebids 3NT. For those playing “2H bust” or step responses, if East were to show some values (semi-positive 2D or step 2H = 4-6) West could rebid 2NT, leaving East room to explore with Stayman or a transfer. Here, however, East is nearly busted and West must leap to insure reaching game. Although 4D at this point would be a transfer, East should not insist on such an anemic suit and 3NT ends the bidding. North leads his fourth-best spade: the suit is lousy but hie has two potential entries. Although E/W have a nine-card major fit, the concentration of values outside hearts are fine for notrump. West wins the lead in dummy and calls for the ten of hearts, planning to run it if South follows low. When the suit splits 2-2 dummy suddenly has two more entries. The defense gets in once each in hearts and diamonds and clears the spades; declarer could gamble a finesse for an overtrick, but a better plan wouild be to come down to something like -- -- Q10 J in hand opposite – x x x in dummy. When the last heart is cashed South must keep the Q of clubs and so is forced to bare the Jack of diamonds for West’s 11^th trick. Note that +430 would be a poor score, as several pairs managed to reach 4H, making five.

 

Board 4 West Deals Both Vul	♠ 10 7 6 3 ♥ A 9 6 ♦ K ♣ J 8 7 3 2
♠ A K 8 5 4 ♥ — ♦ J 9 8 6 4 2 ♣ K Q	N W E S	♠ Q 2 ♥ K Q J 5 4 3 2 ♦ — ♣ A 9 6 4
	♠ J 9 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦ A Q 10 7 5 3 ♣ 10 5

 

West opens either 1D or 1S. The short hearts make it likely partner or an opponent will bid that suit over 1D, after which West can hope to bid and rebid spades; but there is a significant risk the bidding may reach 4H before West bids again. I’m inclined to open the major on a minimum 5-6 hand unless the minor is strong and the major is weak. Over 1S, East responds 2H. A new suit by opener at the 3 level is game-forcing and requires significant extra values in standard methods; that may be an overbid here with the misfit for partner’s hearts. The alternative is to limit the hand with a 2S rebid, which is why most experts do not consider a rebid of oepner’s suit after a 2/1 response as showing extra length. Still, I decided to be optimistic, hoping the diamonds might be useful at notrump or game or slam in diamonds might be on with this control-rich hand.

 Since 3D creates a game force (or 2H, for 2/1 Game Force bidders), East can simply rebid 3H – this hand has a lot of slam potential. Picture opener with as little as AKJxx Ax xxxx xx and 13 tricks could be a laydown. West, however, retreats to 3NT – it would be a mistake to rebid 4D and miss game in notrump. East can make one more try with a 4C control bid. This should clearly be seen as s slam try since, with a genuine club suit, East ought to be satisfied with 3NT. West is discouraged by his heart void and tries 4D. Having suggested slam I think East does best to bid 4H, ending the bidding. As it happens the hearts pslit 3-3 and 6H makes, but +680 should score well against those who stumble into some strain other than hearts.

Board 11 South Deals None Vul	♠ J 10 5 4 3 2 ♥ Q 2 ♦ J 6 ♣ Q 7 3
♠ A K 9 8 6 ♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ A Q 2 ♣ 6	N W E S	♠ 7 ♥ K J 10 8 5 4 ♦ 10 8 5 4 ♣ 10 8
	♠ Q ♥ 6 ♦ K 9 7 3 ♣ A K J 9 5 4 2

 

South opens 1C and West doubles for takeout, planning to bid spades next to show a 17+ overcall. North, however, scotches that plan with a 1S response or weak (in competition) jump to 2S. Be sure to discuss with your partner how weak this short of jump may be: 0-5? 4-7? 6-9? I like 4-7, so if responder bids and rebids his suit it suggests a constuctive 8-10.

 East has a classic hand for a 4H leap: a fair six-card suit, good playing strength but limited values. This is similar to the well-known 1H-4H “preemptive” game raise. Over the double, East expects a ten card fit or strong nine If partner is doubling on a strong hand he should nevertheless have a tolerence for any unbid major. If East wants to bid game based on more high cards but only four or five hearts, he begins by cue-bidding opener’s suit.

 West has a wealth of controls; might there be a play for twelve tricks? The diamond finesse rates to win in light of South’s opening bid, so West counts perhaps six trump winners, four side suit quick tricks and perhaps two club ruffs. Blackwood bidders may as well guess to bid slam, while RKCB pairs can confirm partner has a key card (presumably the trump King.)

 South cashes a club and, when partner encourages, forces dummy with a second club. East cashes the two top hearts and crosses to dummy with a spade. When South produces the Queen, the spade suit is an open book – did you remember you started with the seven? Cash the second high spade to be sure South is out, then lead the nine. North must cover, ruffed, diamond to the Queen, lead the eight of spades (also covered and ruffed.) Return to dummy with a diamond and the six of spades brings home the slam. Yeah, I doubt I’d’ve gotten it right at the table, but North’s spade bid provides a valuable clue. Even without that declarer should start on spades, hoping for a 4-3 break, and shift gears when South produces the Queen.

 

Board 27 South Deals None Vul	♠ K Q ♥ 10 9 8 7 4 ♦ K 4 2 ♣ Q 7 2
♠ 8 7 6 3 2 ♥ K 6 2 ♦ A 9 8 ♣ 10 6	N W E S	♠ A J 10 9 5 4 ♥ Q ♦ J 10 5 ♣ 9 8 3
	♠ — ♥ A J 5 3 ♦ Q 7 6 3 ♣ A K J 5 4

 South opens 1C, North responds 1H, East jumps to 2S. South should force to game, either bidding 4H directly or cue-bidding 3S. Ideally, South would jump in spades to emphasize the shortness, but 4S would be an overbid opposite a minimum response. I suggest using the cue-bid when opener is strong in high cards (about 18+) and jump to game on a hand like this which is relying on good shape. (This distinction helps if partner is interested in slam or East/West compete over 4H -- the cue-bid establishes "this is our hand, don't let them play a contract undoubled."

 

With five trumps opposite six and not vulnerable, West sacrifices at 4S despite his relatively balanced hand and good defensive values. North has more than he might have, but not enough to risk going beyond game. The KQ in spades may be wasted on offense; double seems right. South would compete to 5H had North passed, but his three quick tricks look good for defense; this is a close decision. Estimating 18 total tricks, South can expect 4S to be down three if 5H makes. As it happens the clubs are good for N/S on offense and the diamond spots help E/W, so 5H is the winning call, but I'd take the sure plus with the double.